My favourite one is the parody of the Microsoft Surface. It uses the official advert, but with some rather sarcastic voice overs. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZrr7AZ9nCY

Then of course there’s the Wii Fit parody:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iYBmAVuBns&feature=related

I love these clips because it really does show us where technology, particularly interactive technology is heading. Are we becoming so lazy that we would prefer to header an invisible ball by ourselves instead of outside with all our mates, with a real one? The people that made it, sarcasticgamer.com certainly share the same views as I do.

On a much lighter note, I have been playing GTA IV a little bit recently, which much like these adverts, makes me wonder where we are going with technology, and games in particular. Indeed, the fact that it is a sandbox game gives us the freedom to do pretty much whatever we want in a ’safe’ environment, or in other words… run over helpless pedestrians, blow up cars and have awesome shoot-outs when in reality, we wouldn’t do anything of the sort… at least I hope not. Agai, following my point about football, videogames and technology are breaking the social aspect of our lives right down, where we sit infront of a screen talking to our friends instead of going down to the pub, going shopping or whatever we used to do. Same goes to facebook… facebook sucks, its a pointless hype which will soon die out like myspace and Mark is an asshole… fuck facebook! thats just my opinion, but I hope for your sake you see my point.

However, with the multiplayer aspect included in many of today’s videogames,  it allows us to communicate and play with friends or complete strangers. Again with GTA IV involved, it allows us to really blow the brains out, or knock the lights out of the people we hate, when in real life it just isn’t possible… unless you were very sick and twisted.

Talking of sickness, I am indeed still ill, but today has really hit rock bottom. I literally couldn’t keep my eyes open they were in so much pain, and it’s not because of the late nights I’ve had, because I’ve been in bed most of the time since the illness began a week ago. According to everyone it’s fresher’s flu. It’s certainly fresh as I have never been ill before, I certainly hope I feel better in the moro.

I haven’t managed to make a start on my interview project entitled “What is Interactive Design?” I have had a few ideas though and will hopefully get in contact with a few people I know from the industry. I’ll let you know how things get on.

Meanwhile, now that I have the internet, I really do have to get on with this website project I have… I am way behind and my clients are certainly not happy at all. So much for October release… sorry guys!

Anyway, time to get on with some work, I’ll write another blog tomorrow. Until then, see you around!

Of course, the majority of sites I have created do not contain many “interactive” elements, particularly flash elements which seems to be the most popular choice for user interactivity. However, some have proven too much where a nice, simple, easy-to-use, bog-standard “static” page will do. Ok, there is the design element which of course is important in the presentation of the site, but again, even a well designed menu structure does the job nicely.

This is one of the websites which I have put together for a corporate design communications company:

http://www.bexonwoodhouse.com/

http://www.bluedoorvillas.com/

Each site has been designed and developed with the every-day user in mind, being as user-friendly as possible while maintaining a decent looking design.

Though I have not had much experience with anything but websites, I do have a keen interest in broadening my abilities and furthering my knowledge throughout the whole range of Interactive Design.

Admittedly though, I have jumped into a course of which I indeed know not very much about, I feel that it is the right course for me and the right direction I am taking.

Stay tuned for part two of What IS “Interaction Design”?!

P.s. Check out Soda Constructor… its fantastic!

http://sodaplay.com/creators/soda/items/constructor